Mother in #deadbabyscandal seeks to sue University Hospital

Malissa Bryan, one of the mothers whose child died in the infectious outbreak leading to the dead babies scandal says she is taking steps to sue the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in St Andrew.

Bryan told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that her attorney Marc Ramsey will initiate court action because the hospital failed to meet a deadline to respond to her letter seeking compensation.

She is seeking compensation for, among other things, funeral expenses, pain, suffering, mental distress and the cost of ongoing treatment for psychiatric injuries.

Our news centre has obtained a copy of the November three letter sent to the hospital and the Health Ministry, outlining a list of failures that allegedly contributed to the death of Bryan's son.

The law firm Myers, Fletcher and Gordon responded on behalf of the hospital on November six, requesting 21 days to respond.

However, Bryan is contending that the November 27 deadline has passed and up to today, there was been no word from the hospital.

When contacted, chairman of the hospital board, James Moss Solomon, said he had no information on the matter and pointed to the ongoing investigation by the Office of the Public Defender.

Bryan's son was born premature on August 25 and died on October 15, following a bacterial infection.

Nineteen babies died over the four months leading up to October due to the outbreak of the bacteria, klebsiella and serratia in the NeonatalIntensive Care units of the UHWI and the Cornwall Regional Hospital.